photo courtesy of Mick Hales

Wave Hill House was first built as a country home in 1843 by W.L. Morris. Then it was owned by W.H. Appleton who considerably enlarged the mansion and leased it to famous residents such as Theodore Roosevelt’s family and Mark Twain. In 1903, a neighborhood financier, G.W. Perkins, bought the house and created a grand estate along the river, merging Glyndor and Wave Hill Estates. Perkins also devoted great efforts to plan the grounds to develop the land into a wonderful garden dotted with exceptional views of the Hudson. Notably, Perkins’s involvement at the inception of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission was pivotal in preserving the majestic cliffs of the Palisades across the river, not spoiling the view from the contoured garden. Throughout its history, Wave Hill House has hosted renowned guests, including the natural scientist T.H. Huxley. Other famous tenants included Arturo Toscanini, and chief members of the British Delegation to the United Nations (1950-1956), visited by Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, during their stay. In 1960, the Perkins family deeded Wave Hill to the City of New York, and since then the estate has been open to the public.

Situated on rolling hills in the northwest Bronx, overlooking the Palisades of New Jersey, Wave Hill Estate is a 28-acre wonder of serenity and peace and constitutes a very nice destination for an outdoor day trip, easily accessible from Manhattan. After taking the subway from the West Side, a bus ride will take you to within walking distance of the estate’s main entrance (see “directions” at the end of the article for precise details). Once you are on the bus, you will probably find it hard to believe that you are still in the Bronx as you drive through fancy looking middle-class neighborhoods. Hop off at 252nd Street and walk toward the Wave Hill gate to start your visit.

A map distributed at the main gate will invite you to walk along paths within award-winning gardens, greenhouses, and woodlands. Some areas such as the aquatic garden or the woodlands are at their best in late summer and fall, all adorned in glorious autumn color. While strolling the gardens, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the dramatic vistas and relax in chairs and benches scattered around the grounds. The Wave Hill House (1843) itself has been transformed into a learning center (Kerlin Learning Center) and is home to the charming Wave Hill Café. Although indoor seating is available, the best way to enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack is if you sit on the wonderful outdoor terrace to take advantage of the vibrant landscape and the last sun rays of the year.

For those more interested in learning about aspects of horticulture and the environment, Wave Hill Estate offers numerous educational programs. November highlights include a discovery of hidden treasures among Wave Hill’s collection of 3,000 plants and trees with a tour along the woodlands guided by a guest gardener (November 11), and November 16 features “Herbs for the Holidays,” when Wave Hill Garden guide and chef Pam Carey will accompany cooks and foodies to spice up the season with delicious herb flavored side dishes and to taste savory recipes for Thanksgiving and other holiday meals.

Between the Kerlin Learning Center and the family art projects, Wave Hill also provides ample intrigue for children. All family members can experience nature firsthand and can join artists and education staff members in craft making such as nature-writing collages using leaves, twigs, and natural materials (November 11 and 12), or modeling clay tree or other natural relief sculpture for your walls (November 18 and 19).

The fall season is an exceptional time to spend at the Estate. Before leaving, stop at the Wave Hill Shop in the Perkins Visitor Center for nature-inspired gifts and books, or visit the second house of the estate, the Georgian revival Glyndor House (1927), which presents exhibitions of contemporary art. This fall, fourteen artists with roots in the Caribbean, Asia, and South America will present the exhibition Transplant-Transculture (September 10 to December 10), featuring ways in which plants signify a deep connection to home. Among the featured artists, Tomie Arai will give an Asian-inspired monotype printmaking adult workshop on November 12, and Julio Valdez will teach a collage-based mono-printing technique inspired by Afro-Caribbean imagery (November 19).

If you are in great shape and can’t get enough of New York City historic landmarks, walk east through the residential neighborhood to Broadway, and catch a bus south to the Van Cortlandt Mansion, the oldest house in the Bronx, which provides an interesting glimpse into eighteenth century life.

Directions:
Wave Hill is easily accessible by train, bus, or car.

TRAIN: from Manhattan, take the 1 train to 231st Street to connect to either the Bx7 or Bx10 on 231st Street (NW corner by Chase Bank). Stop at 252nd Street, cross over the bridge over the freeway, turn left and walk down 252nd Street, turn right at 249th Street and walk along the houses to reach the Wave Hill main gate. When returning, catch the Bx7 or Bx10 bus on the southbound Henry Hudson service road at 249th Street.

CAR: From Manhattan, take the Henry Hudson Parkway to Exit 21, 246th-250th streets. Continue northbound on the service road to 252nd Street. Turn left onto the overpass. Turn left again at the light. Turn right at 249th Street and proceed to the Wave Hill gate.

In winter, Wave Hill is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (October 15 to April 14) and is closed on Mondays and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. In summer, Wave Hill is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (October 15 to April 14) and is closed on Mondays except Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day. Admission: $4 (Wednesday-Sunday). Tuesday: Free all day. Saturday: Free (9:00 a.m. to noon). For more information, registration, and for a detailed program of events, please visit www.wavehill.org or call (718) 549-3200 extension 305.

The author wishes to thank Martha Gellens for her help with the Wave Hill Estate November program.